35th anniversary of TSIA Comedy Club offering trio of national comics

Sam VanCura has brought such comedians as Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and Ron White to Mansfield for the TSIA Comedy Club.

Now in its 35th year, the Third Saturday in August event will be back at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Renaissance Theatre with Steven Scott, Karen Rontowski and Johnny Lampert.

"People get their money's worth every time they walk out," VanCura said.

He sifted through videos of 120 to 150 comics before settling on this edition's trio.

"They're all veterans," VanCura said. "I don't have anybody that I don't laugh out loud at by at least the second joke. You can get a YouTube video on any comic in America."

VanCura makes it clear with anyone who performs at the show to avoid crude humor.

"I don't like to hear the F-bomb on my stage, but I don't want a church service, either," he said.

Steven Scott: Think Jerry Seinfeld meets Jim Carrey

As seen on TV and stages from Broadway to the Las Vegas Strip, Scott is a comedian, actor and host whose unique and tasteful brand of comedy combines clever observations of his everyday life with his vocal talent, which includes an array of characters, voices and sounds ranging from celebrities to musical instruments.

Once described as a perfect mix of Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Carrey, Scott loves getting paid now to do exactly what used to get him in trouble as a kid.

"Steven Scott is quite different than anybody I've ever had," VanCura said. "He does sound effects in the context of a joke.

Scott has a friend who lives near the New York subway. He incorporates those sounds into his act.

"He appealed to me and my wife (Janet)," VanCura said.

Rontowski's fast-paced, quirky and charmingly optimistic comedy has been featured in clubs, TV, radio and at corporate events around the world. Her standup showcases endearing, self-effacing and intelligent characters that catch you by surprise every time.

Comedy blended with paranormal stories

She blends comedy with her experience as a paranormal investigator, tarot and reiki master.

"Karen brings something that I have trouble finding, a woman comedian that doesn't get crude and is funny," VanCura said. "She made me laugh right away."

Lampert is considered one of the premier comics in the country. He is a regular at New York City's and Los Angeles' best comedy clubs, including the Gotham Comedy Club, the Comic Strip, Caroline's Comedy Club and the Improv.

VanCura said Lampert has been an agent for comics.

"I've gotten most of my acts through him," he noted. "He and Steven (Scott) are playing at New York City. They're going to catch a plane to do our Saturday show."

Trying to make each show the best

VanCura says he tries to make each TSIA Comedy Club the best ever.

"There were only three (in 35 years) comics that I couldn't wait for them to get off stage," he said.

VanCura gets to know the comics a little bit, giving them tours of the old Reformatory and having dinner with them before the show.

He remembers Foxworthy coming to his house and holding VanCura's then 6-month-old son. Foxworthy later did an intro for the 25th anniversary of the TSIA Comedy Club for

Tickets are $30. To order, call the Renaissance Theatre at 419-522-2726 or VanCura at 419-610-4361.

mcaudill@gannett.com

419-421-7219

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Trio of national comics coming to Mansfield on Saturday